Waël
How to say it: wa-EL · /waˈel/
French spelling of Arabic Wael, meaning 'returning, seeking refuge' - popular in France and North Africa.
Waël was the 5,812th most popular boys’ name in the United States in 2025, given to 13 babies (Social Security Administration). The 2020s are its busiest decade so far, its births are down about 36% in ten years, and it is projected to slip to #6,208 by 2030.
Updated · SSA 2025 data, published May 2026 · Insee 2025 data, published July 2026 · How we compute these figures
Key facts
| Rank among boys’ names, 2025 | #5,812 |
|---|---|
| Babies born in 2025 | 13 |
| Share of births | 1 in 255,026 |
| Peak decade | 2020s |
| Change over 10 years | −36% |
| Projected rank for 2030 (estimate) | #6,208 |
| In France, 2025 | #186 among boys’ names, 215 births |
Sources: Social Security Administration (SSA), Insee (France). How we compute these figures.
Its life, decade by decade
Waël is climbing: the 2020s are already its best decade.
What goes with it
In the classroom
In a class of 25 children born in 2025, the chance that another child is called Waël is about under 1 in 200.
Around the world
This spelling is used in Arabic, English, French.
In France: #186 for boys in 2025.
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